Al Hilal vs Al Nassr: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

Published at :February 6, 2024 at 1:38 PM

Modified at :February 6, 2024 at 1:38 PM

The winner of the match will be crowned the champion of Riyadh Season Cup

Al Hilal, with a remarkable 21-game winning streak in all competitions, leads the Saudi Pro League by seven points halfway through the season with 53 points from 19 games. They aim to use the upcoming match against their arch rivals Al-Nassr as preparation for the rest of the season, following a one-month break since their last game.

On Thursday, February 8, Al Nassr, the prominent team in the Saudi Pro League, will play against Al-Hilal as part of the Riyadh Seasons Cup. This tournament serves as a midseason friendly for the Saudi Pro League. Al Nassr currently holds the second position in the Saudi league standings with 46 points from 19 games, trailing the league leader and their opponents in this match, Al Hilal, by seven points.

Kick-Off:

Thursday, 08 February 2024, 11:30 PM IST

Location: Kingdom Arena

Form

Al Hilal (in all competitions): W-W-W-W-W

Al Nassr (in all competitions): W-W-W-W-W

Players to Watch

Aleksandar Mitrovic (Al Hilal)

Aleksandar Mitrovic epitomizes the classic number 9 archetype – a traditional, robust striker adept at holding possession with his back to the goal and positioning himself effectively in goal-scoring zones. While renowned for his effectiveness in aerial duels due to his strength and height, Mitrovic’s intelligence in creating scoring opportunities around the penalty area often goes underrated. He stands as the second-highest scorer in the Saudi Pro League this season.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr)

Cristiano Ronaldo Al Ittihad vs Al Nassr — **Cristiano Ronaldo was the top scorer of 2023**

Apart from Ronaldo’s outstanding professionalism, a significant factor contributing to his enduring career is his capacity to adapt by focusing on specific areas of the pitch and preserving his innate goal-scoring ability. While he maintains excellent physical condition, he now engages in fewer sprints, both with and without the ball, compared to his earlier years. Since joining the Saudi side, he has showcased phenomenal performance and aims to sustain his impressive form.

Match Facts

Al Hilal, the Saudi league toppers, have a better record against their opponents.
Al Hilal are yet to lose a single match this season.
Al Nassr have scored a goal every 31 minutes in all competitions this season.

Injury & Team News

Al Hilal have all the eight players back who were with the Saudi Arabia national team at the Asian Cup, so all of them missed the friendly against Inter Miami. Also, Al Hilal will be with Bono and Kalidou Koulibaly again, who were at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Manager Luis Castro will have a full-strength squad at his disposal and will likely go with his strongest XI for this game. Sadio Mane will be available after missing games due to the ongoing AFCON. According to reports, Cristiano Ronaldo is ready to face Al-Hilal in the Riyadh derby, he has reportedly recovered from his calf injury.

Head to Head

Total Matches – 72

Al Hilal wins – 38

Al Nassr wins – 17

Draws – 17

Predicted Lineup

Al Hilal predicted lineup:

Bounou; Shahrani, Dawsari, Muteb, Lodi; Savic, Neves, Faraj; Malcom, Mitrovic, Michael

Al Nassr predicted lineup:

Alaqidi; Al-Boushal, Alawjami, Laporte, Telles; Brozovic, Al-Khaibari, Otavio, Talisca, Mane; Ronaldo

Match prediction for Al Hilal vs Al Nassr

Both Al Hilal and Al Nassr will field complete squads in the upcoming Riyadh Seasons Cup. However, throughout the season, Al Hilal have consistently demonstrated superiority over their opponents, maintaining a higher level of performance. This trend has persisted since the beginning of the season, suggesting that Al Hilal is the stronger side compared to Al Nassr.

Prediction: Al Hilal 2-1 Al Nassr

Telecast

Apple TV will telecast this match in all countries.

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